Possibly No One Has Ever Been More Injured Than Dunk in AKOTSK Episode 5

The following contains spoilers for A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS episode 5.

The first “Trial of Seven” fought on Westerosi soil in over a century was always going to be a bloody affair. But even Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett) likely didn’t anticipate the carnage to come when he invoked the ancient Andal custom to get out of a well-deserved ass beating.

We see that carnage play out in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5 “In the Name of the Mother” as Aerion’s six champions (Prince Daeron, Prince Maekar, Ser Steffon Fossoway, Ser Willem Wylde, Ser Donnel of Duskendale, and Ser Roland Crakehall) face off against Ser Duncan the Tall and his six supporters (Prince Baelor, Ser Lyonel Baratheon, Ser Raymun Fossoway, Ser Humfrey Beesbury, Ser Humfrey Hardyng, and Ser Robyn Rhysling).

While much of the episode takes place in a flashback to Dunk’s youth when he first met Ser Arlan of Pennytree, he spends almost the entirety of the present day trial as a human pin cushion for Team Aerion’s blades. Whether it’s because Dunk is an unseasoned fighter or merely the largest target on the field, our poor guy just gets lit the hell up out there. In fact, here is a brief rundown of every wound to the hedge knight’s body that we observed:

– Aerion’s lance straight through Dunk’s gut.
– Maekar’s mace to his face. 
– An unidentified morningstar to his face.
– Aerion’s mace to his leg and then to his arm.
– Aerion’s shield crashing down on his neck.
– Aerion’s dagger to his stomach (twice) 
– Aerion’s dagger through his hand. 
– An unidentified mace to his head.
– Aerion’s sword to his back.
– Aerion’s sword to his arm.
– Aerion’s sword to his back. (For the second time in like 10 seconds.)
– Aerion’s sword to his stomach. 
– Aerion’s sword to his thigh.
– End scene.

By the time the final horn blows, Dunk may have sustained more non-fatal injuries than just about any one else in TV history. And his large form looks more like a sentient bruise than a human being. According to Dunk actor Peter Claffey, that physical transformation was every bit as challenging as the fight choreography itself.

“Anna [Knight], my makeup artist, was just insane. I wouldn’t have been able to get through that job without her,” Claffey says. “She had to put that enormous [bruise] prosthetic on my eye every morning. It was like two and a half hours in the chair. She just smashed it every time. We also had a wasp infestation at the time, so there were wasps all over me trying to drink the sugar blood.”

Though Dunk defeats the wretched Aerion Brightflame and survives the ordeal, not all of his teammates are so lucky. After losing both Ser Humfreys in the first charge, it looks as though every one else came out unscathed. Unfortunately, Prince Baelor (Bertie Carvel), Hand of the King and heir to the Iron Throne, suffered a fatal wound to the back of his head that only becomes apparent upon the removal of his helm. The man who helped remove that helm, Raymun Fossoway actor Shaun Thomas, expresses similar appreciation for the makeup department’s gruesome work.

“It was a very difficult scene to shoot because you’ve come from battle, you’re beaten up, and the energy is low. It was hard to embody that and still take the helm off. But it was such a great moment. To actually see the back of his head… it was kind of a natural reaction to what the makeup team had done, which was a great job. And Bertie played it absolutely fabulous. I feel really honored to be a part of that scene.”

Ultimately, the experience of crafting the trial of seven sequences sounds nearly as tiring as the skirmish itself.

“We were so drained. I remember being just so exhausted by trying to feel that pain and portray how much hurt [Dunk] is in,” Claffey says. “You can almost feel yourself going in and out of consciousness because you’re trying to force yourself to feel that every bone is broken and everything is punctured, stabbed, and cut. I couldn’t believe how drained I was by the end of it.”

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 finale premieres Sunday, February 22 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.